Kerosene vaporizer



. a 12 1 Z Apnl 9 7 J. A. MATHES I KEROSENE VAEORIZER Filed Sent 2'71920 In ven tor: 91$, 62, 74441250.

Patented Apr. 12, 1927.

UNITED STATE JOHN A. KATHES, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

KEROSEHE VAPORIZEB.

Application filed September 27, 1920. Serial No. 413,040.

culate around the tubes to heat them to the vaporizing temperature ofthe liquid fuel contained in the vaporizing tubes.

A further object is to provide a simple air and fuel vapor mixer, whichis formed by the usual intake manifold with a pipe extension having anopen end to form the inlet mixing tube of the air and fuel vapor mixer.

The air and vapor mixer is provided with an opening in the side toreceive the heated vapor from the secondary vaporizing tube where it isthoroughly mixed with atmospheric air in correct proportions for perfectcombustion.

It is further provided that the air and vapor mixer is positioned at theside of and in close proximity to the exhaust gas manifold and to theexhaust gas jacket and in heat receiving relations thereto.

The exhaust gas jacket is located at the side of the engine cylinders asnear the exhaust manifold as practical.

By positioning the exhaust gas jacket which contains the vaporizingtubes and the air and vapor mixer where the vapor is mixed with air atthe side and in close proximity to the engine exhaust manifold, I amenabled to maintain the vaporized hydrocarbon vapor at a temperatureabove the condensing temperature of the mixed vapor that is beingconveyed to the engine cylinders.

The vaporizing tubes are both inclined at a considerable angle from theinlet on the upper end down to the outlet of the lower ends. Thisinclination is for the purpose of causing the small quantity of liquidfuel that is caused to enter the upper tube from the oilsupply pipe,when the supply valve is opened momentarily preparatory to starting, topass down over the surface of the secondary or lower vaporizing tube,the

vaporizing tube having been previously heated by the electric heatingelement.

A further object of having the vaporizing tubes inclined downward is toprevent the tubes from filling at any time with any considerablequantity of liquid as would be the case with tubes located horizontally.

To promote a quick starting of a cold engine with the use of the regularkerosene or other hydrocarbon contained in the main supply tank andconducted through the same channels as the main supply of liquid fuel,is one advantage of my invention which is accomplished by having thesecondary vaporizing tube positioned in an inclined position from theinlet down to the outletand a limited quantity of oil caused to flowdown over a large heated surface of vaporizing pipe, and having a largeopen unobstructed outlet into the inletend of the air and vapor mixerand then only a short distance for this small charge of mixed vapor totravel to the engine cylinders. Theheating of the vaporizer for thisinitial starting is accomplished by the electric heating element shownor other suitable means.

After the initial heating, as explained, the exhaust gases in theexhaust gas jacket make the heatingof the tubes continuous andautomatic, and the electric current is turned oil.

In the claims the vaporizing tube 4 is referred to as the primaryvaporizing tube and tube 13 as the secondary vaporizing tube.

With these objects in view, my invention is embodied in preferable formin-the construction and arrangement hereinafter described andillustrated in the accompanying drawing.

The drawing is a diagrammatical View in vertical section of the completedevice.

The form of device shown in the drawing consists of a jacket 1completely enclosing the vaporizing tubes 4 and 13. Jacket 1 is formedof one integral casing whichv is imperforate save at the inlet 2 andoutlet 3; forming an inlet and an outlet for the exhaust gases from theexhaust gas manifold, not shown in the drawing, which allow the exhaustgases to circulate freely around the vaporizing tubes to maintain themat the vaporizing temperature as long as the engine is in operation.

Formed as a part of vaporizing tube 4 is valve body 4 having valve stem11 which is adapted to seat in the orifice seat 12,. while lever arm 1()actuatcs valve stem 11. The orifice formed at seat 12, serves as anoutlet for the heated vapor of vaporizing tube 4 when the engine exhaustis heating the liquid fuel to a vapor in vaporizing tube 4 and serves asan outlet for the small quantity of liquid fuel when the supply valve 8is opened momentarily by valve lever 9 for the initial starting of thevaporizer, the tube 13 having previously been heated by the electricheating element 15.

The control of the liquid fuel supply flowing-through pipe 7 from asupply tank bv valve 8, has only secondary importance in regulating theproportions of kerosene vapor to air. The valve 8 is adjusted onlyroughly, there being at all .stages of adjustment an opening allowing asurplus of liquid fuel. The opening at orifice 12 allows only sufiicientvapor to escape as to give the correct proportion for the air flowingin' the air and vapor mixer, and thereby creates a back pressure thatautomatically regulates the flow of liquid into vaporizing tube '4through valve 8, in other words, the valve 11 controls the amount ofliquid that passes .through valve 8.

Formed as a part of the lower end of vaporizing tube 4 is tube 13 andsleeve 14. Sleeve 14 serves as a means of attaching tube 13 to 13" andtube 4 and with an insulated joint at the upper end of vaporizing tube13. At the lower end of tube '13 is another msulated joint 14 formed asa part of sleeve 13, both insulated joints serving to insulate thevaporizer 13 from metal contact that would dissipate the heat derivedfrom the electric heating element 15 when heating the tube 13preparatory for the initial starting. The secondary vaporizing tube13-is made relatively smaller than primary vaporizing tube 4 to conservethe heat required for the initial starting, the short tube v13having-outlet 23 serves as a support for the, insulated joint'14 and asa conduitfor the vapor from tube 13.

Formed in the lower side of jacket l-is the insulating bushings 16 and16" through which the electric terminal wires pass to the electricheating element.

Formed as an end to the electric heating element chamber 17 is wall 1which also serves as a support for sleeve 14.

The electric element chamber 17 has front and back side walls, notshown, and has its top side closed by the lower wall of tube 13, makingthe chamber 17 imperforate save for the entering openings for theelectric wires,

which arrangement keeps the exhaust gases from coming in contact withthe electric heating element.

In the upper end of the vaporizing tube 4 is placed a light wire mesh,5, which serves as a filler to cause part of the liquid fuel to adhereby capillary attraction and remain in the upper end of the vaporizingtube during the operation of the vaporizer, preventing pulsation of thevapor supply and the liquid supply, and the wire serves to retain asmall part of the initial charge of cold oilthat passes through the wireon its way to the lower vaporizing tube 13, when the engine is slartedfrom a cold state with the electric element. The secondary vaporizingtube 13 is small in diameter to insure quick starting and economy in useof electric current.

Oil supply valve 8 has a spring seat head, not shown, attached to thevalve stem which will open upwardly and allow a release of pressure inthe chamber of vaporizing tube 4 when the valve Sand valve 11 are closedon stopping the engine, which pressure would end 13 in an opening in theside of the cold air intake end of the air and fuel vapor mixing chamber20 formed by casing 18.

Butterfly valve .19 is positioned in air and vapor mixer 20 at a pointabove the outlet of the vaporizing tube 13".

The upper end of the air and vapor mixing tube 20 is bent inwardly andback of the hot exhaust gas jacket 1, for the purpose of having the airmixer in heat receiving relation to the jacket 1 and to the exhaustmanifold of the engine, not shown in drawmg.

to facilitate removal of wire filler 5.

It is thus seen that with this construction and arrangement that the airafter entering the mixing tube at 21 mixes with theoil vapor dischargedfrom 23 and goes to the engine cylinders through conduit 22. Thus allparts of the air and vapor mixer are in intimaterelations with the hotzone of the exhaust manifold and the exhaust gas acket, whicharrangement prevents condensation of the mixed air and vapor.

Cap 6 on tube 4 has threaded engagement In this invention the air andvapor mixer I is considered as the chamber from the air intake to theengine cylinder inlet ports, which is not necessarily constructed inLtheform of the usual intake manifold. The upper portion of air and vapormixer is not shown in drawing.

In the operation of this'device, before the engine is iven the usualturn over for starting, the e ectric switch controlling the current forthe heating element is turned on and after a half minute of heating thevaporizing tube 13 the hand throttle lever is turned to wide open andquickly closed again. This operation has discharged a small quantity orliquid fuel into the up per end .of the vaporizing tube 4 where aportion adheres to the wire filler 5 and a portion passes quickly downand out the opening 12 into vaporizing tube 13 and down over the heatedsurface of the tube.

sutiicient vapor mixture to pass valve 19 to' give the en ine a fewexplosions, Now the operator 0 serves that the engine has started andshifts the hand throttle lever (not shown) to open the three valves 8,11, and 19 respectively a limited amount, which causes the vapor thathas formed in the tube' 4 from the heat of the exhaust gas of the fewfirst explosions and also the heat of the electric element to supplysufiicient heat to continue the operation. The process of heating thetubes and the mixing of the vapor with. air is now continuous andautomatic.

After the engine is insured a good start, as stated above, the electricheating element is turned OE and the operation of the engine fromthat-time until the next starting operation is in the usual way. 7

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. A kerosenevaporizer comprising a cas ing having an inlet and an outlet foraheating agent, an air and vapor mixing cham-=' nication with the valvecontrolled outlet of said primary vaporizing tube and connected in openunrestricted communication with said air and vapor mixing chamber.

2. A kerosene'vaporizer comprising a casing having an inlet and anoutlet for a heating agent, an air and vapor mixing chamber, a primaryvaporizing tube for vaporizing kerosene supported in said casing having'a valve controlled inlet" at one end and a valve controlled outlet atthe other end, a secondary vaporizin tube held in communication ,withthe va ve controlled outlet of said primary vaporizing tube andconnected in unrestricted open communication with said air and va ormixing chamber, and held ina downwar y inclined position relativeto saidrimary vaporizing tube.

3. A erosene vaporizer comprising a casbein ing having an inlet and anoutlet for a heating agent, an air and vapor mixing chamber, a primaryvaporizing tube for vaporizing kerosene supported in said casing havinga valve controlled inlet at one end and a restricted outlet at the otherend, a secondary vaporizing tube held in communication with the outletof said primary vaporizing tube and connected in unrestricted opencommunication with said .air and vapor mixing chamber, and held in adownwardly inclined position relative to said primary vaporizing tube,and an electrical heating element located in said casing adjacent tosaid sedond= ary vaporizing tube.

4. A hydrocarbon vaporizer comprising a casing having an inlet and anoutlet for exhaust gas, two downwardly inclined vaporizing tubessupported in said casing, the upper end of the primary vaporizing tubehaving an inlet for the liquid fuel and the lower end having a valvecontrolled outlet communicating with the upper end of the secondaryvaporizing tube, the outlet of said sec-- ing a valve controlled inletand the lower end having a valve controlled outlet communicating withthe upper end of the secondary vaporizing tube, the outlet or which isunobstructed.

6. A kerosene vaporizer comprising a casing having an inlet and anoutlet for exhaust gas, two downwardly inclined vaporizin tubessupported in said casing, the upper on of the primary vaporizing tubehaving a valve controlled inlet and the lower end having a valvecontrolled outlet communicating with the upper end of the secondaryvaporizing tube, the outlet of which is unobstructed, and an electricalheating element located in said casing adjacent said secondaryvaporizing tube.

7. A kerosene vaporizer comprising a casing having an inlet and anoutlet, two downwardly inclined vaporizing tubes supported in saidcasing, the upper end of the primary vaporizing tube havin a valvecontrolled inlet and the lower en having a valve controlled outletcommunicating with. the upper end of the secondary vaporizing tube, theoutlet of the secondary vaporizing tube unobstructed and the diameter ofwhic being reduced relative to said primary vaporizing tube.

8. .A kerosene vaporizer comprising a casing having an inlet and anoutlet, two down wardly inclined vaporizing tubes supported in saidcasing, the upper end of the primary vaporizing tube havin a valvecontrolled inlet and the lower en having a valve controlled outletcommunicating with the upper end of the secondary vaporizing tube theoutlet of which being unobstructed and the diameter. of which beingreduced relative to said primary va orizing tube, and an air and vapormixing c amber connected-thereto at its lower end. 10 In testimonywhereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 24th day ofSeptember 1920.

' JOHN A. MATHES.

